Fewer Missouri workers are hurt on the job

JEFFERSON CITY -- The number and incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases in Missouri decreased in 2001 compared with 2000 and 1999. There were 118,400 nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases reported in private industry workplaces in Missouri in 2001, compared with 132,000 cases in 2000.

The incidence rate (rate per 100 full-time workers) of these cases decreased to 6.1 in 2001, down from 6.8 in 2000.

Manufacturing was again the major industry division with the highest nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate. But that incidence rate was 10.1 per 100 full-time workers in 2001, down from 11.0 in 2000 and 12.0 in 1999. The industry category of transportation equipment, motor vehicles and car bodies was again the industry with the highest nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate at 39.3 per 100 full-time workers.

But this rate was also reduced from the 2000 incidence rate of 40.9. The engineering and management services category again had the lowest nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate at 1.0 per 100 full-time workers, down from 1.5 in 2000.

The incidence rate of cases that resulted in workers missing work or having their work activity restricted also went down to 2.8 per 100 full-time workers in 2001 from 3.1 in 2000. The incidence rate of cases without lost workdays was reduced to 3.3 in 2001, down from 3.7 in 2000 and 4.3 in 1999.

Statistics on Missouri nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses are reported in the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Research and Analysis Section.